Alan Sutton, Tansania
Info
Stylochus sp.
Stylochidae is a family of flatworms containing 6 genera and 36 known species. Representatives of the Stylochidae family are mostly predators that feed on mussels and barnacles. With their long tentacles, Stylochus roundworms can easily be confused with slugs.
Unfortunately, there is little information to be found on the Internet about the genus Stylochus. The genus contains a few very colorful and extremely beautiful species, such as: Stylochus (Stylochus) insolitus from California and Stylochus plessissii from the North Atlantic.
The exact diet of the unspecified Stylochus sp. Strudelworm is not known. The photo comes from Tanzania. The same species was found in a book, where the two longitudinal stripes that run across the body are deep black. In the photo from Tanzania, the black vertical stripes are only faintly visible. The indeterminate flatworm was found at a depth of 20 meters in an area consisting mainly of rubble. It was about 12mm long.
These flatworms are hermaphrodites and have an interesting mating ritual known as penis fencing. During this event, one flatworm attempts to inseminate the other - without being inseminated itself. This behavior can last up to an hour, and the loser of this battle begins developing fertilized eggs immediately.
Stylochidae is a family of flatworms containing 6 genera and 36 known species. Representatives of the Stylochidae family are mostly predators that feed on mussels and barnacles. With their long tentacles, Stylochus roundworms can easily be confused with slugs.
Unfortunately, there is little information to be found on the Internet about the genus Stylochus. The genus contains a few very colorful and extremely beautiful species, such as: Stylochus (Stylochus) insolitus from California and Stylochus plessissii from the North Atlantic.
The exact diet of the unspecified Stylochus sp. Strudelworm is not known. The photo comes from Tanzania. The same species was found in a book, where the two longitudinal stripes that run across the body are deep black. In the photo from Tanzania, the black vertical stripes are only faintly visible. The indeterminate flatworm was found at a depth of 20 meters in an area consisting mainly of rubble. It was about 12mm long.
These flatworms are hermaphrodites and have an interesting mating ritual known as penis fencing. During this event, one flatworm attempts to inseminate the other - without being inseminated itself. This behavior can last up to an hour, and the loser of this battle begins developing fertilized eggs immediately.
